Shower head

ABSTRACT

In a shower head having a hollow body, a spray-adjusting assembly including a water-conducting member and a flowobstructing unit mounted for reciprocal movement within the body, and manually operable means for moving said assembly within said body, the provision of means for facilitating movement of said assembly relative to said hollow body.

United States Patent Paul C. Symmons Newton, Mass.

June 19, 1970 Nov. 2, 1971 Symmons Engineering Company Braintree, Mass.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee SHOWER HEAD 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. (1 239/460 Int. Cl B05b l/32 Field of Search 239/456,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,003,703 10/1961 Lambton 239/460 X 3,344,994 10/1967 Fife 239/460 X 3,547,353 12/1970 Pecka 239/460 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. Grant Attorney-Schiller & Pandiscio snowsn HEAD This invention relates to shower heads wherein the water outflow rate and dispersion pattern is controlled by a flow-obstructing unit reciprocally mounted within a hollow body. More specifically it relates to a shower head having a moveable assembly comprising a water-conducting member and a flow-obstruction unit reciprocally mounted within a hollow shower head body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The art of adjustable shower heads is well developed. Examples of patents which present adjustable shower heads are U.S. Pat. Nos. l,849 ,5l7, l,98l,948, 2,285,831, 2,795,462, 3,l30,9l l, 3,2l0,0l3 and 3,468,483.

A desirable featureof adjustable shower heads is smooth operation of the spray-adjusting mechanism and the stability of the spray-adjusting mechanism once positioned. It is also desirable to minimize frictional drag between moving parts and prevent leakage around parts of the mechanism used to adjust the shower head.

Various approaches have been used in an attempt to attain the features mentioned above. The various solutions that have been conceived suffer from certain limitations. including designs which are complicated or expensive to make, failure to achieve smooth operation without mechanical binding, trapping of fluid behind the moveable flow obstructing unit whereby excessive force is required to move the flow obstructing unit inwardly of the body, and an excessive number of seals and packings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shower head assembly having a smoothly operating spray-adjusting mechanism.

It is a further object to provide a shower head wherein the moveable spray-adjusting assembly remains stable once positioned.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a shower head requiring a minimum of seals and packings particularly about the spray-adjusting assembly.

A further object is to prevent buildup of water pressure or vacuum behind the moveable spray-adjusting assembly.

Another object is to prevent mechanical binding between the moveable spray-adjusting mechanism and the shower head body.

The above objects and features are achieved by a shower head comprising a hollow body, a spray-adjusting assembly reciprocally mounted within the body comprising a water-conducting mem her and a flow-obstructing unit, and means interposed between the hollow body and the moveable spray-adjusting assembly for preventing buildup of water pressure or vacuum between the body and the assembly and also for preventing mechanical binding between the flow-obstruction unit and the hollow body. Other features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a cross-sectional view of a shower head constitutinga preferredembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a member of the flow-obstructing unit taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated shower head comprises a bell-shaped shower head body 2 having an enlarged aperture 4 at its bottom end and a smaller aperture 6 at its upper end. Adjacent its bottom end the body 2 is provided with a straight cylindrical surface 7. The upper end aperture 6 is provided with an internally extending flange 8.

Positioned in the body 2 is an elongate hollow member in the form of a sleeve 10 which extends through the upper end aperture 6. The upper end of sleeve 10 has a reduced diameter so as to provide a shoulder 12 which engages the flange 8. That portion of sleeve 10 above shoulder 12 is threaded as shown at 14. Sleeve 10 is also provided with a narrow projection 16 formed integral with its shoulder. Projection l6 functions as a key and fits in a keyway 18 formed in flange 8, with the result that sleeve 10 is prevented from rotating within body 2. Adjacent its upper end sleeve 10 has an internally extending flange 20 which functions as a seat for the lower end of a compression spring 22. The opposite end of compression spring 22 is engaged by a retainer ring 24 which supports a resilient ball-joint washer 26. The ball-joint washer 26 acts as a seat for a ball element 28 which is formed on the end of an inlet connector 30. The latter is threaded at 32 so that it may be connected to a water supply line (not shown) leading to hot and cold water supplies (also not shown). Ball element 28 has an axial bore 34 whereby water may pass from the water supply to the interior of sleeve 10. A threaded nut or ball-joint retaining ring 36 with an intumed flange 38 is screwed onto the end of body 2. Ball element 28 is surrounded by a toroidal metal retaining ring 40 which is engaged by flange 38 and acts to captivate the ball element so that it cannot pull out of the body while at the same time allowing the shower head body to be swiveled manually on the ball element. Washer 26 prevents leakage of water around ball element 28 and also imparts sufficient friction to hold body 2 in whatever angular position it is placed.

The sleeve 10 is spaced from the surrounding wall of body 2 but is provided adjacent its bottom end with a peripheral flange 42 which snugly engages the inner surface of the body except as hereinafter described. Formed integral with flange 42 at one side of sleeve 10 is an enlargement 44 that is provided with a radially extending bore 46 in which is rotatably mounted a cam member consisting of a cylindrical stub shaft 48 having an eccentric extension in the form of a round pin 50 at its inner end. Stub shaft 48 is provided with a peripheral groove in which is seated an O-ring 52 which provides a water seal between the cam member and sleeve 10. The outer end of stub shaft 48 is provided with a threaded axial bore 54 and a counterbore 56. Inserted in counterbore 56 through a side opening 58 in body 2 is the end of a shaft 59 that forms part of an operating handle 60. That end of handle 60 is splined at 62 and the stub shaft 48 has a series of radially extending slots (not shown in detail) around counterbore 56 to accommodate the ribs on the splined end of the handle, whereby the handle and stub shaft will rotate as a unit. The handle is secured in place by a bolt 64 that is screwed in bore 54.

At this point it is to be noted that the flange 42 and the enlargement 44 of sleeve 10 are formed with edge slots 66 and 68 that are aligned with side opening 58. Additionally the outer end of stub shaft 48 is bevelled so as to provide a gap 70 between it and the adjacent surface of body 2. It is to be noted also that side opening 58 is oversized with respect to the handle shaft 59.

Disposed within the sleeve 10 is a water-conducting member comprising a sleeve 72 with a dish-shaped annulus 74 at its bottom end. Sleeve 72 has a side opening 76 to accommodate the eccentric pin 50. Sleeve 72 makes a snug sliding fit within the sleeve 10 and is provided with a peripheral groove in which is mounted an O-ring 78 that acts as a seal so that water cannot pass between it and sleeve 10.

The peripheral portion of the dish-shaped annulus 74 has a flat cylindrical surface 80 which engages a corresponding flat or straight cylindrical surface 82 formed on the inner side of the body2. The surface 80 of annulus 74 is undercut to form a U-shaped peripheral groove in which is disposed an O-ring 84 which engages the inner surface 82 of body 2 and acts as a seal so that water cannot flow between the surfaces 80 and 82. It is to be noted that even with sleeve 72 withdrawn into sleeve 10 to the limit permitted by the cam member (as shown in FIG. 1), the annulus 74 is spaced from flange 42 of sleeve 10 so as sured vertically in FIG. 1) of chamber 85 increases as sleeve 72 is moved outwardly (i.e., downwardly in FIG. 1) by rotation of handle 60. Chamber 85 is protected against inflow of water by the sealing action of O-rings 78 and 84 but is vented to the atmosphere by way of slots 60 and 68, gap 70 and side opening 58.

The bottom end of sleeve 72 terminates in an end wall 87 having a flat end surface surrounded by an annular extension 88. However, a plurality of passageways 94 (only one is visible in FIG. 1) are provided through sleeve 72, dished annulus 74 and annular extension 88 to permit discharge of water into the interior of the lower end of body 2.

Releasably secured to the bottom end of sleeve 72 is flowobstructing unit comprising a large spray-controlling member 100 and a smaller spray member 102. Both members are circular. The large member 100 has a plurality of bosses 103 that extend into suitable holes in the end wall of sleeve 72. It also has a straight cylindrical outer surface 104 which is slotted to provide a series of axially extended grooves 106 which are tapered with their widest ends at the top and their narrowest ends at the bottom. Additionally it is preferred that base surface 108 of every other groove be slanted at one angle and the corresponding surfaces of the other grooves be slanted at another angle (compare grooves 106A and 106B) so that water will pass out of said grooves in two distinct conical patterns. The member 100 also has a center hole 110 and a plurality of ports 112 surrounding the center hole. One or more of ports 110 communicate with the passageways 94.

The smaller spray member 102 is disposed in a counterbore 114 in member 100. The counterbore 114 is tapered and the spray member 102 is essentially a disc with a slanted peripheral surface which engages the surrounding surface of member 100. Spray member 102 is provided with a plurality of grooves or slots 116 on its periphery with successive grooves being at different angles similar to the grooves 106 in the periphery of spray member 100. Grooves 116 cooperate with the surrounding surface of member 100 to provide a plurality of fixed size water discharge orifices. Because of the alternating angular relationship of successive grooves 116, water passes out of said grooves in two additional distinct spray patterns.

Spray member 100 and 102 are secured to sleeve 72 by means of a bolt 118 and a bushing 120. The latter extends through center hole 100 of spray member 100 and is screwed into a threaded hole in the end wall of sleeve 72 and has a head which holds spray member 100 against sleeve 72. Bolt 118 is screwed into bushing 120 and its head holds spray member 102 tight against the end of the bushing 120.

Completing the assembly is a gate member in the form of a resilient ring 122 which has a straight cylindrical inner surface and preferably is of square or rectangular cross section. Ring 122 may be made ofa natural or synthetic rubber or a resilient plastic. Ring 122 is disposed in a groove 124 on the inner surface of body 2, the groove having a shape in cross section such as to accommodate and retain ring 122 while permitting it to expand or contract radially. Hence the height of the groove (as seen in FIG. 1) is just large enough to permit radial movement of the ring but not so large as to permit the ring to move axially by any substantial amount. Additionally, groove 124 has a depth (measured radially) slightly greater than the outside diameter of ring 122 at room temperature (e.g., 70 F.), with the result that the ring can expand radially in the groove. Ring 122 is made with an internal diameter such that at room temperature its inner surface lies against the peripheral surface 104 ofthe spray member 100 and thus acts as a gate so as to confine the discharge of water to the passages or slots 106.

Operation of the shower head is as follows, Water enters through the inlet connector 32 and the ball member 28 to the interior of the sleeve 10. The water then passes down through sleeve 72 from which it is discharged via passageways 94. Some ofthe water then flows out ofthe shower head body as a fine spray via the orifices formed by grooves 116 and the surrounding wall of large spray member 100. The remaining water flows out of the shower head via the orifices formed by grooves 106 and gate 122. It is to be appreciated that the size of the latter orifices is variable, the effective orifice size depending upon the axial position of the spray member 100 as determined by rotating handle 60. As indicated above, HO. 1 shows the flow-obstructing unit withdrawn to its innermost position in the body 2. Rotation of handle 60 causes the eccentric 50 to rotate, and such rotation cams the sleeve 72 axially in a downward direction (as seen in H6. 1). The resulting downward movement of spray member 100 produces an increase in the effective cross-sectional area of the orifices formed by the grooves 106 in conjunction with the ring 122. Thus when the flow-obstructing unit is in its uppermost or inner position as shown in FIG. 1, water is discharged via grooves 106 in narrow streams or jets, forming a fine spray. lncreasing the effective size of the orifices formed by grooves 106 and ring 122 causes the water to be discharged in larger streams, forming a heavy or coarse spray with a somewhat narrower pattern. The maximum downward or extended position of the spray-adjusting mechanism is reached by rotating the cam member 180 from the position of FIG. 1. It may be pointed out that although the small spray member 102 has no axial movement similar to the large spray member there is a variance in the spray from that member when the handle is turned. When the head is set for fine spray the water pressure behind the large and small spray members is at its highest and this imparts a forceful spray from the small member. When the head is set for coarse spray the pressure is reduced by virtue of being relieved faster out of grooves 106 and the resultant force of the spray from the small spray member 102 is lessened like that of the spray from the large member 100.

The foregoing construction has certain material advantages. For one thing, by making the annulus 74 and the spray member 100 of equal or effectively equal cross-sectional areas, the upward force of water on the annulus 74 is equally balanced by the force of water downward on spray member 100, thus eliminating any hydraulic force that resists rotation of the handle for spray adjustment. It is to be noted also that the shower head is sealed against leakage of water from the upper end of the body or via the side opening 58. The seals 78 and 84 prevent inflow of water to the chamber 85 between the body 2 and sleeves l0 and 72. Thus no hydraulic back pressure can build up on the back side of the dish-shaped annulus 74. A hydraulic back pressure acting on the annulus 74 would offer resistance to inward movement of the spray-adjusting assembly which comprises the sleeve 72, annulus 74 and the spray members secured to sleeve 72. An additional advantage is provided by venting or bleeding air from chamber 85 to the atmosphere by way of slots 66 and 68, gap 70 and side opening 58. This air bleed prevents a vacuum buildup in chamber 85. A vacuum buildup in chamber 85 would increase the turning force required to move the spray-adjusting mechanism toward the outlet end of the body 2. Still another advantage of the invention resides in the arrangement of the ring 122 in the oversized groove 124. A common problem with an adjustable shower head is that it is subjected to varying water temperatures so that its various parts tend to expand or contract according to changes in water temperature and mechanical binding occurs, notable between the flow obstruction unit and the surrounding body. Prior attempts to minimize the binding problems have resulted in less effective control of spray pattern. With the present invention, expansion of the large spray member relative to body 2 will not result in binding since the ring 122 can expand radially by an amount sufficient to maintain spray control without binding. lf subsequently the spray insert contracts relative to body 2, the ring 122 will contract with it and thereby preserve control over the effective spray pattern.

Although a number of materials may be used in the construction of the assembly, it is preferred that the body 2, inlet connector 30, rings 36 and 40, handle 60, screws 64 and 118 and bushing 120 be made of a metal or metal alloy. Other parts of the shower head such as sleeves 10 and 70 and spray members 100 and 102 also may be made of a metal or metal alloy or a suitable plastic while, as noted above, ring 122 is made of rubber or a resilient plastic. However, it is preferred that the spray members 100 and 102 be made of a suitable plastic such as Delrin or Noryl which has a low-temperature coefficient of expansion and a low affinity for picking up dirt particles.

lt is to be noted that sleeve may be considered as part of body 2 and that it could be modified so as to screw into body 2. Similarly the sleeve 72 and the annulus 74 could be made as two separate parts with one screwing into the other. It is obvious that still other modifications may be made in the shower head of FIG. 1 without departing from the principles of the present invention and without losing the advantages of ease of operation and assembly inherent in the illustrated embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. A shower head comprising in combination:

a hollow body having an outlet aperture and an inlet aperture at its opposite ends;

a spray-adjusting assembly mounted in said body for reciprocal movement toward and away from said outlet aperture;

said assembly comprising a flow-obstructing member and a fluid-conducting member;

said flow-obstructing member positioned in said outlet aperture and having a peripheral surface with a series of tapered grooves;

said body having gate means at said outlet aperture cooperating with said grooves to define a series of water orifices whose effective cross section is a function of the position of said flow-obstructing member in said outlet aperture;

said fluid-conducting member communicating at one end with said inlet aperture and having at least one opening at its opposite end communicating with said orifices;

a chamber between said body and said fluid-conducting member that varies in size as said assembly in reciprocated;

said chamber being sealed against inflow of water,

and a passageway venting said chamber to the atmosphere.

2. A shower head according to claim 1 further including means for reciprocating said assembly in said body.

3. A shower head according to claim 2 wherein said reciprocating means include an operating handle accessible outside of said body, said handle being connected to said assembly via a side opening in said body, and further wherein said venting passageway communicates with said side opening.

4. A shower head according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is defined in part by a radial extension on said fluidconducting member.

5. A shower head according to claim 1 wherein said body includes guide means in which said fluid-conducting member is slidably disposed.

6. A shower head according to claim 5 further including rotatable motion-translating means within said body adapted when rotated to reciprocate said assembly, said motion-translating means extending through said guide means and being connected to said fluid-conducting means, a handle, and means securing said handle to said motion translating means so that rotation of said handle will cause reciprocal movement of said assembly.

7. A shower head according to claim 1 wherein said gate means is a resilient ring mounted in a circumferentially extending groove in said body and engaging said peripheral surface, said circumferentially extending groove having a diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of said ring so that said ring is free to expand in a radial direction in response to radial expansion of said flow-obstructing member.

8. A shower head according to claim 5 wherein said guide means is a hollow member that communicates at one end with said inlet aperture and has a radial extension at its other end that forms a wall of said chamber. 

1. A shower head comprising in combination: a hollow body having an outlet aperture and an inlet aperture at its opposite ends; a spray-adjusting assembly mounted in said body for reciprocal movement toward and away from said outlet aperture; said assembly comprising a flow-obstructing member and a fluidconducting member; said flow-obstructing member positioned in said outlet aperture and having a peripheral surface with a series of tapered grooves; said body having gate means at said outlet aperture cooperating with said grooves to define a series of water orifices whose effective cross section is a function of the position of said flow-obstructing member in said outlet aperture; said fluid-conducting member communicating at one end with said inlet aperture and having at least one opening at its opposite end communicating with said orifices; a chamber between said body and said fluid-conducting member that varies in size as said assembly in reciprocated; said chamber being sealed against inflow of water, and a passageway venting said chamber to the atmosphere.
 2. A shower head according to claim 1 further including means for reciprocating said assembly in said body.
 3. A shower head according to claim 2 wherein said reciprocating means include an operating handle accessible outside of said body, said handle being connected to said assembly via a side opening in said body, and further wherein said venting passageway communicates with said side opening.
 4. A shower head according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is defined in part by a radial extension on said fluid-conducting member.
 5. A shower head according to claim 1 wherein said body includes guide means in which said fluid-conducting membeR is slidably disposed.
 6. A shower head according to claim 5 further including rotatable motion-translating means within said body adapted when rotated to reciprocate said assembly, said motion-translating means extending through said guide means and being connected to said fluid-conducting means, a handle, and means securing said handle to said motion translating means so that rotation of said handle will cause reciprocal movement of said assembly.
 7. A shower head according to claim 1 wherein said gate means is a resilient ring mounted in a circumferentially extending groove in said body and engaging said peripheral surface, said circumferentially extending groove having a diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of said ring so that said ring is free to expand in a radial direction in response to radial expansion of said flow-obstructing member.
 8. A shower head according to claim 5 wherein said guide means is a hollow member that communicates at one end with said inlet aperture and has a radial extension at its other end that forms a wall of said chamber. 